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-We have been discovered.

Those were the words that had alerted them all. Had resounded in the room like bullets, and had merged into what seemed an interminable silence full of tension and fear. The worst vision had become reality.

Kianu, who had turned nine years old just a few moons ago, had let out a cry of anguish and had run to take refuge in his mother's lap, while running cast a quick glance at the front door, as if he feared that at any moment it would open up and with furious crowds of people, wanting to collect the bloody betrayal of his family. His mother did not know how to comfort her son. Actually, no one would have known how to do so... considering what hit them.

-The stars will protect us... -Nina murmured to the maid, as she took a paw to his forehead and closed his eyes.

Jarek hadn't known how to react. He had simply continued sitting, the jaws clenched in a tight grin of nervousness, his eyes fixed on those who had brought them to this end. The reason why the people of Frostmoon now cried for justice and cried blood.

-I'll _ __ try to reassure them... Maybe get them to calm down -he heard his father's voice, as if from far away __ __ -. __ __ It's the only option we have. If I explain our situation..._

-If you want, I will go with you to try, my lord.

-And who cares? -had murmured Jarek's mother, bitterly. Her subsequent words had been engraved in his memory forever -. It will not work. Right now, they are... no more than animals. Nobody could make them see reason. They only know how to hate.

_His father had said something, but Jarek didn't hear him. _

His attention remained on the hairless face watching the situation, with a terrible shadow of guilt and despair, from one corner of the room. The only remaining member of that family.

Because of that Human had it all begun... and, because of him, it would all end...

Jarek woke up suddenly, his mind full of vivid images that appeared after the scene he saw in his dreams. It seemed amazing to him how, despite all the time that had passed, he was still able to remember everything as if he had just seen it.

However, he didn't have much time to think about it.

There was something around his throat, something that was too heavy and strong: something that threatened to strangle him and, if he didn't do something about it, would end up snapping his neck. His eyes, still blurry with sleep, fell upon two amber eyes that seemed to glow with fury on a jet black face and a gaping muzzle that seemed ready to release a lethal bite any moment.

Immediately, Jarek knew what was at his neck was a claw.

-Who ... are you? -asked the black wolf that had him trapped with a hoarse, raspy voice, a voice filled with danger.

Jarek would have replied, if he had a voice, but his vocal cords would not respond, moreover, he was scared to death. He debated for only a moment, and panicked, only to have the paw close even tighter around his throat, causing him to drop with a yelp of pain. Jarek kicked out and tried to hit the other wolf, but he was much stronger and barely gave signs of having felt the blows.

His air was running out, and only the smallest gasp of oxygen allowed him to stay alive; he saw pinpoints of light around the edges of his eyes, and the cave seemed increasingly dark, darker than ever ... His thoughts began to wander, his movements gradually lost strength little by little and became soft strokes that could not save him from certain death ...

And then, the pressure relented.

Jarek still needed a few minutes to regain his missing air, gasping. His chest ached terribly every breath he took, but he did not stop breathing, it was reassuring to know he could still keep doing it. He was well, lying on the ground, struggling to recover stolen oxygen, until he heard again the voice of another wolf.

-Sorry. I did not realize that I knew you.

Jarek didn't reply, and tried to collect any thoughts in his head while still shaking with fear.

He had seen that black wolf before. Raon brought him to the cave after finding him in the middle of nowhere, along with the Lynx, who was dying beside him. And had taken care to keep them alive during... how long? For some reason, his memories were fuzzy... That wolf... that wolf was Rukj, it had to be. Yes, indeed, Raon had told him, there was no doubt, even though it was quite hard to remember. But, for now, it was still difficult to think...

-Where's Raon? -the other wolf wondered at the time, asking with some concern, concealed by a demanding voice.

Again, it took him a while to know what to say. When Jarek's view cleared, he discovered that the black wolf had risen and was leaning against the mouth of the cave, looking out and moving his tail back and forth slowly. Surprising, considering he spent nearly four days without making a move.

The blizzard that had harried the Lands when he had found Rukj and his companion still continued snowing unabated.

-Raon? -Jarek repeated indignantly -. Raon?! I'm the one who was about to die! No, you were about to kill me!

Rukj gave him brief glance.

-That just means you're easy to kill -he answered, quietly -. Well?

Jarek squeezed his paws until his claws cracked, but he resigned himself thinking it was better for him to keep quiet on what was going through his mind at the time. Apparently, the wolf really doesn't like to be woken up, or at least, it looked that way so far. So he took a deep breath and trying to calm the blood boiling in his veins, he replied:

-He has gone off hunting. Anyway, he is usually back before I wake up. I don't think he will take very long to get back.

The black wolf nodded, without giving a slight glance, and continued watching the blizzard, as if it was much more interesting than any conversation that Jarek could come up with.

-And Loki? Where is he?

-Loki?

-The lynx -Rukj replied impatiently.

-Which lynx?

-The lynx I brought with me -growled the wolf, bored -. I don't think it's all that hard to understand.

Jarek had to control himself to keep from jumping on him and punching him. The truth was that, having only known him for just a few minutes, there was one thing that was absolutely certain: Rukj had not hit it off with him, and possibly never would.

-I think ... I think he's fine.

-You think so?

-You are not the one who has had to keep him alive! -Jarek snapped while standing helplessly -. It's not just you ... who has been taking care of him!

Rukj turned towards him with a dangerous glow in his eyes, but without returning from the mouth of the cave. He was watching him for a few seconds that seemed forever; a few seconds in which Jarek analyzed the burly figure of the black wolf, and knew why Raon trusted him so much. In the event that a confrontation began, he didn't have any possibility of winning.

After an awkward, tense silence, the menacing glow in Rukj's eyes faded.

• It's good to know that you care -he said, slightly calmer -. He could not have endured so much for die now...

Jarek shook his head, still somewhat annoyed, and sat down again, sulking. The wolf's attitude was starting to get on his nerves; he appeared out of nowhere after Raon had been dreaming about his arrival for weeks, he was found unconscious, they had to take care of him and he further risked his ass for Loki... and he still came with demands? Who the hell did he think he was?

He had to admit, however, that he had already felt some hate the day Raon had mentioned him, not knowing why. In fact, he did not like the fact that the Human trusted him so much... in fact, it bothered him a bit.

-I'd like to see him, if you don't mind -Rukj asked after a few minutes of silence.

-Of course -said Jarek, trying to keep a cool head -. He ... is in the back of the cave. There is less wind there.

He stood and waited as the other wolf reached towards him and then begin to walk toward the back of the cave. The embers of a fire still threw some light on the walls, and the lynx was lying not far from the heat of the fire, so we had no problem finding him.

-There you are -Jarek muttered, annoyed, as he pulled away and let the other wolf pass and bend down with Loki. He didn't really wanted to get close to the fire, even though it was almost out.

Rukj watched the lynx for a few moments in silence. He seemed so much better than the last time he had seen him, with a fur blanket covering his entire body, giving him more warmth. Still suppressing a shudder because the memories it awakened, he carefully looked over Rukj, a hairless groove now ran from the front of Loki's face to his left cheek, passing through the eye. A mark that will surely never go away.

-How long did we remain here?

-Four days Jarek replied, trying to make it sound like it was much longer.

-I thought so... a wound like that does not heal well so quickly. Well, actually it should not be healed yet... -he murmured, as if to himself.

-We believe that... whatever it was that made him so cold, had already passed -a familiar voice said then, not very far away -. The shaking stopped two days ago. Since then, he seems to have improved.

Rukj turned toward the place the voice came from, and found a Human figure wrapped in white fur, holding the bodies of two dead snow rats by the tails.

The hunt of the day.

-Raon -the wolf whispered, giving him a long look, as he rose and approached him. He could never share it with anyone, but the sight of the youth still holding up and not pierced by the lance of any irrational Beast had lifted a huge burden from him. He had the urge to hug him, but finally decided to hold back. Instead, he said -. It is a relief to know you're okay.

-Well, at least I'm still alive -said the Human, smiling slightly -. I'm glad to see you too. I was afraid that something bad had happened in Frostmoon.

-We had a problem, yes -the black wolf admitted reluctantly -. But now I'm worried about Loki. Ronod ... who caught us forced him to drink a poison that has been doing him a lot of damage. I thought ... believed there was little chance of him getting out alive.

-What happened that you could not come back until now? -Raon then asked, dropping the snow rats in a corner of the cave and giving him a look full of his old and insatiable curiosity -. Who exactly is that Loki? And why have you been ...?

-Do not be so impatient -Rukj interrupted him with a weary sigh -. Still ... you ask too much. At least that has not changed yet.

Raon shook his head and gave him a pained look.

-Yeah, but ... I was worried. You said you'd be back in a day or two and it has been over two weeks since I saw you the last time. You left me with Jarek -his gaze drifted to the copper-furred wolf, slowly -. I had to take care of him, and he's not exactly a born hunter.

-I did realize... -Rukj muttered, giving him a sideways glance.

Jarek observed the argument from their position, and could not help but be amazed.

-Hey! Can you tell me why did you say that, Raon? -he asked, almost indignantly.

The Human's face relaxed a little, and smiled shyly.

-I'm sorry -he apologized, finally -. But you have to realize that you do not help me much with the hunting.

Jarek held his gaze for a moment and finally look away, hurt. For some reason, he could not find neither the strength or the words to respond to that accusation. Mostly because knew, in the depths of my being, that it was completely true.

He was useless. From the first day, he had only been a burden to Raon. At the end of the day, who had to go out hunting every morning to find something to eat? Who had lit bonfires every night they had slept outdoors? Who had learned how to keep the lynx conscious when the poison had been about to kill him?

With sadness, Jarek realized that he was not even needed a little by Raon. Nothing. No use ... at all.

-I see you've hunted a good piece to get this skin -Rukj then observed, as he turned back to Loki and gave a closer look at the blanket that covered him -. It had to be difficult.

-The truth is that it was not easy -Raon acknowledged.

-And you got the wound on his face heal much faster than normal ...

-I used arnica -Raon explained, as if he feared making a mistake -. I didn't have any alcohol to clean with, but... I think that even so it still had an effect. Was that wrong?

Rukj shook his head.

-Of course not. I'm proud of you, Raon -he admitted -. I never thought you would be able to defend yourself so well in the face of adversary.

The Human smiled and lowered his head, a little embarrassed.

-Well... After all, I had a great tutor.

The wolf smiled back, and it was a strange smile, but that appeared to soften his menacing wolven features for a moment. He almost seemed to look younger, as if it took him back to other times when life was less harsh and more enjoyable. But, of course, Raon alone was able to perceive this. He spent enough time living with Rukj to know that had never happened... at least, not that he could remember.

However, at that time, Jarek stepped past him toward the outside, an upset look upon his face, which was not normal for him, and that put him on alert.

-Hey! -Raon asked confused, turning to the young wolf -. Where are you going?

There was no answer.

Rukj watched as the young wolf left the cave and plunged into the blizzard outside, without looking back even once and or uttering a single sound, left the question from the Human unanswered.

-You should go talk to him -he suggested to Raon, giving him a sideways glance -. And convince him to return here again. Out there the weather is horrible... We should stoke the fire if we don't all want to freeze to death.

-I'll do so as soon as you return -promised Raon -. Jarek... Jarek can not feed the fire.

-He doesn't know how to do that either?

Raon, already moving toward the mouth of the cave, stood on the site and turned to the wolf slowly, as if searching for the right words to say. After a moment, he sighed.

-No. But it's not something he likes to talk about. In fact, he has not told me, but... I know he is afraid of fire.

One idea was sparked in Rukj's head as he briefly recalled Loki's words that he had said a few days ago in the tavern, when he had told him what had happened in the fire of Frostmoon. It was a perfectly natural thing for the young wolf to fear fire... especially after the tragedy that he had to live through.

Then he remembered that he also had to talk to Raon about the Chain and the Web, of everything he had learned with Loki, and turned back to his protege... ... but however, the Human was no longer there.

• Aren't you cold?

Jarek did not respond.

Sitting against one of the rocks that stood at the foot of the mountains where they had established their new base, the wolf had crossed his arms and looked ready to ignore it all: both the cold and Raon's words. The Human, however, could not help but watch him carefully, wondering exactly what might have happened to his friend... and if he had something to do with it.

-I was looking for you, you know? -he said, trying to fill the uncomfortable silence that only the increasingly strong blizzard seemed ready to break.

-Well, you found me -Jarek replied with a low ill tempered growl.

Raon frowned. He did not ever remember seeing him angry before.

Worst of all was that he was not able to see the cause, for some reason, it was as if everything was incomprehensible to him. Raon wanted to know why his friend was angry, and perhaps he would have found out if he tried to focus more on the details of their previous conversation, but... unfortunately Raon wasn't able to do that.

-What is it? -he asked, feeling completely lost -. Are you ... angry about something?

The wolf took his time to answer.

-No -he answered finally, shaking his head -. Not that.

-What is it then? -Raon insisted, biting his lower lip -. Have I ... done something that is bothering you? You know I ... I don't always know when you are feeling bad.

Jarek again remained silent for a few seconds before answering Raon's question, and this time his voice showing weariness and fatigue.

-It's not your fault.

Raon was relieved to hear these words, as if the mere confirmation that he had nothing to do with his friend's anger calmed him down. However, he didn't seem to notice that this answer could well be a half-truth to try and settle the issue.

-Then what are you doing here? -he asked, trying to make sure that everything was really all right.

He did not want to go leaving Jarek there, although in recent days if he had been a burden, it was true that he really appreciated it. So far, he was his only real friend. And, although at the moment their friendship does not include lit bonfires, or going out hunting, or knowing how to use arnica to heal wounds more quickly... he had the feeling that he should keep it at any cost, as a treasure wrapped in a cloth.

Because his friendship would not dare to light fires, but sheltered his in his embrace during cold nights. The friendship did not help him to hunt, but he remained in good spirits and he felt uplifted each time he returned to the cave without sufficient prey.

Their friendship knew nothing about how to heal scars, but he simply could not lose him. Let alone having discovered it so recently.

-I was ... was thinking -Jarek lied, without much success.

-Yes. About what?

-Of Rukj -he said, and his voice became a low growl of anger -. Did you know that as soon as he opened his eyes tried to kill me? He said he did not remember having seen me before.

Raon looked surprised.

-So then he must have come here much worse than he is willing to admit. I will have to ask him to tell me the story later ... just in case.

-But don't you see? -Jarek almost shouted, raising his paws to his head, desperate -. He tried to kill me just because he did not remember me! I am the one who had been about to die!

Raon's face remained inscrutable for a while, until he finally let out a sigh and sat beside the wolf, folding his hands and losing his eyes on the horizon. Although the blizzard continued throwing soft myriads of tiny specks of snow to the side, none of them seemed to notice.

Moreover, they felt the cold outside was not as important as that they felt within.

-I think I'm beginning to understand - muttered Raon after a few moments, tilting his head -that Rukj is the strange one.

He left those words in the air for a moment, until Jarek, who had heard them only in passing, looked up with a questioning look.

-I mean, since I can remember -explained the Human, still staring at nothing -, I thought that they all had to be like him. Dedicated to hunting and survival. Worried about staying alive. With his feet firmly anchored to the ground and a cool head.

Jarek opened his mouth to say something, but eventually changed his mind and said nothing. Just then, Raon turned to him and gave him a strange look, still with his hands clasped.

-But you're different -he said, with a tone of admiration -. You seem not to worry about survival, but simply... live for the moment -he paused -. No matter if you die tomorrow as today has value. And don't feel the need to keep your feet anchored to the ground, while you believe that in the clouds there may be something better.

Raon finished talking with a sigh, and again lost his gaze on the horizon, as if everything that was just said had left him exhausted. Jarek, meanwhile, continued with his mouth open.

-Raon... -he could mutter after a moment -. Raon, Raon, Raon ... That is very beautiful.

-I do not know if it's beautiful or not, it is reality -the Human replied softly, shaking his head -. He has taught me to see that. The reality of it. Maybe you can see something different, but I am unable to. But now... every time I look at you ... and see how you are and how is it ... -he paused again, looking for the right words so he could continue -, I admire you a little more. And I think the rest of the people, all those with whom I have never met... should be more like you and less of him.

-You think so? -Jarek asked, not knowing exactly what to say to the youth's words.

-I do not know it for sure, but ... something tells me so -Raon assured him, gently stroking the hilt of his dagger, looking up at the sky and losing his gaze -. I envy you, Jarek. You're happier than me. And when I look at you, I think the world I've never known, is at least as nice as you, and not so dangerous and disheartening as Rukj always paints it.

-The world is a dangerous disheartening place, Raon -Jarek replied, with dry mouth. -. That is not going to change because ... because I am happier than you, right...?

Raon said nothing for a few minutes.

He continued stroking the hilt of his dagger, thoughtful, while his eyes remained fixed at some point he was not able to reach or see. He felt that, by looking more earnestly, he could discover something in the sky... even beyond the clouds that darkened the sky and unloaded on them that storm.

Jarek, meanwhile, had dropped back against the rock, too stunned to speak and too cowardly to break that perfect silence. What had happened was simply too strange for his mind could comprehend yet.

Finally, after a moment that seemed to last forever, Raon got up and put the dagger in his belt in one fluid motion. Jarek briefly looked at him, still a bit dazed.

-Then I hope someone is able to change it -said the youth, and almost seemed to speak for itself -. I will wait inside. Do not delay, or you'll catch cold.

The auburn-furred wolf stared after him, dumbfounded, as the boy went back into the cave and disappeared from sight. Still leaning against the rock, he let out a weary sigh and looked toward the sky, the same sky that Raon had been contemplating seconds before as if desperately searching to find something.

Jarek sensed he had not found anything, and therefore had decided to enter the cave, but still could not help thinking that the moment had been, at least, strange. And the strangest thing of all was that, despite being flattered by Raon's words, there was something that caused him great sadness.

<<He is learning>> he thought for himself, and the thought seemed to have importance.

<<I still don't not know what, how or why, but ... he is learning. Although he has yet to see the world as it really is out there ... to realize that what Rukj believes is not all that misguided>>.

Silently, Jarek decided to wait a while before re-entering the cave, and folded his arms behind his head, before letting out a yawn. He did not like to be waken from his sleep, then he would be sleepy all day and was unable to focus on anything. Yet another reason why he should a grudge against Rukj.

The wind ceased against his fur for a moment, before a beam of light opened a passage through the clouds and the storm was finally banished from heavens.

The blizzard was over, and while the last of the snowflakes caressed Jarek's muzzle as if to say goodbye to him forever, the wolf gave a thought to the boy who had just entered the cave, and kept that memory inside his mind as if it were the most precious time he had ever seen.

Because now that he looked at the sky and discovered the light he was able to understand everything. That was the first time.

The first time Raon had dared to dream.

And Jarek's wished that it would not be the last.